Forming die for shaping tubes



May 16, 1939. H. G. DEWEY FORMINGDIE FOR SHAPING TUBES 2 Sheets-Sheet i Filed June 5, 1 957 My, A

May 16, 1939. H; G, W Y 2,158,176

' FORMING DIE FOR SHAPING TUBES Filed June 5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 z UL 76 68 U 51 Z6! Patented May 16, 1939 umrso STATES FORMING DIE FOR sHArIne'ruis'E's Haywood G. Dewey, Rochester, -N'. Y., assigiior to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N4 Y -a corporation of New Jersey..

Application June 5, 1937,8efial No. 146.638

3' Claims.

edges of the blank may be turned during the forming operation to abut the outer edges of one of the forming dies and thus seriously hamper subsequent forming steps. This difficulty is par ticularly evident during the formation by dies of blanks of thin sheet metal.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision on a forming die provided with a forming recess of an inclined surface or surfaces adjoining and sloping toward the forming recess, so as to engage the edges of a partially formed blank and to cam those edges into the forming recess of the die.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a forming die of an auxiliary forming member which sets into one of the dies and which is operated prior to the closure of the dies to preform the sheet metal blank.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of the aforementioned inclined surfaces Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent or suggested to those skilled in the art by the disclosure which follows.

To these and other ends, the invention con- 'sists of certain parts and combinations of" as hereinafter described, the novel features being pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is hereby made to the accompanying ignate similar elements and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section through a multiple forming tool embodying the forming dies of s the invention.

ing tool.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse cross-section" taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

auxiliary forming member. s

Fig. 5 is a transverse cross-section through the forming dies just prior to movement of the dies to closed position.

'Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the forming dies and showing guide members .at each end of one of the dies functioning to hold the blank in posi- .llanda petition- Fig. 1.

'7 and have shoulders bearing thereon. Fig. 4 is a detail of a yoke and support for the tiofi during the'iifibn of the auxiliary fdrfnirlg' member.

Fig. '7 is a crossesection through the auxiliary forf ing 'mefnbe'r or rod and taken on the line 1- -!zor Fig. 1 I

Fig. 8'fis" also'a transverse cross-section of the forming rod but taken on the line 84 of Fig. i;

Fig. 9 is a cross-section on the line 9'9 of Fig. l but with the dies in partially closed positions.

The present invention is to be described with respect to a multiple forming tool but it is to be understood that the forming dies of the invention may be applied with equal elfective'ness to other types "of forming dies irrespective of their use either individually, in multiple, or in combination forming tools or dies.

According to standard practice, the forming too-l'fs placed between bolstermembers of a press. As nmstrated herein, the tool is mounted upon a base member fll of the press. A lower bolster plate. If is mounted upon the base member I II and is provided with a plurality of dowels l2. The upper boister plate [3' has a plurality .of gui'ding sleeves, M which fit over the dowels l2 and guide the upper bolster plate I 3 in its movement with respect-t the lower" bolster plate -I I. The reciprocating movement of the upper bolster plate 13 1s accomplish the conventional manner by a reciprocating member or rain, not shown, of the press.

The illustratedfembodinient of the invention includes a: pair of punching dies for cutting the blanks td'be ormed from strip stock moved transversely ofi'the press. Such a punch press coiri-pr es a'pu'nch l5 on the lower bolster plate f ppeiiblate l1 which is mounted on rods l6 rid'norrnallyheld by springs [6" in the I s I Stripper plate I? is provided with a pair of blank guiding channels [8. A pair of stripper pins 19 are mounted withinsaidfpuncn It and are urged upwardly by springs 20"; A blanking die 1'22 is attached to a dieholder 23 on upper bolster plate l3. A stripper pad '22 is mounted for vertical movement within the opening of said blanking die I212. Pressure pins 2 eiifzend through stripper pad 22 Pressure springs 25 bear on pins .24 .normallyto maintain 1 said pins Zl'anld stripper pad 2! in the positions shown in 1.

Upon operation of the press and movement of bolster plates 'H and f3. toward each other, the

blanking die [2? depresses the stripper plate againsttheiaction of springs [6. The stock is preferably in the form of a transversely extending strip and a blank 2| is formed when the punch l enters the blanking die |22. During the return stroke of the press, springs l6 return the stripper plate I! and strip the stock from punch l5, springs 25 move stripper pad 22 to strip blank 2| from blanking die I22, and stripper pins I9 raise blank 2| from the punch l5 while pressure pins 24 bear on the blank 2| opposite stripper pins I9 and prevent the blank 2| from jumping upwardly or sticking to stripper pad 22. At the conclusion of the punching operation the blank 2| is supported by stripper pins l9 opposite said guiding channels |8 in stripper plate H.

The forming dies of the invention will next be described. The lower forming die 26 is mounted upon a die holder 2! on lower bolster plate Said lower forming die 26 is provided with a forming recess 28 and with a plurality of bevelled recesses 29, see Fig, 6, which are spaced at intervals along the edges of forming recess 28, Auxiliary forming blocks 39 and 3|, see Fig. 9, are positioned at each side of the lower forming die 26, have their upper surfaces level with the blank guiding channels |8 of the punch press, and have projections 39 and 3|, respectively. An overhanging guide member 32 is fastened to block 39 and a, second overhanging guide member 33 is pivotally mounted on die holder 21. A spring 34 between die holder 21 and overhanging guide member 23 holds said guide member 33 in the position shown in Fig. 3.

A pair of guide members or guide plates 35 are positioned at each end of the lower forming die 26 and are each provided with an opening 36.

An auxiliary forming member is actuated by an operating means which moves said auxiliary forming member between the auxiliary forming blocks and into the forming recess of the lower forming die to accomplish a preforming of the blank. Such an auxiliary-forming member may comprise a forming rod 31 which is inserted into a guide block 38. Said guide block 38 includes a vertical post 39 on which a nut 40 and washer 4| are fastened.

An intermediate bolster plate 42 is provided with an opening 43 and is guided with respect to die holder 21 by a plurality of dowels 44 thereon and guide sleeves 45 on said intermediate bolster plate 42, A bushing 48 is fastened to intermediate bolster plate 42 by bolts 41 and contains a sleeve 46 within which the vertical post 39 of guide block 38 may move. A pair of springs 49 are provided between guide block 38 and intermediate bolster plate 42 to hold them in the relatively separated position'shown in Fig. 4.' A plurality of presser feet 50, see Fig. 2, are slidably mounted in upper bolster plate l3 and are urged downwardly by springs 5| encircling each presser foot 56 and fitting into bushings 52 in upper bolster plate |3.

A guide channel 53 for the blanks 2| is provided in block 38 by fastening a guide strip 54 to the lower face thereof. A saddle piece 55 is provided with a recess 56 for fitting over forming rod 31 and said saddle piece 55 is fastened to intermediate bolster plate 42 by a nut 51.

A pair of kicker pins 58 and 59 are slidably mounted in die holder 2! and are normally urged to an upper position, shown in Fig. 1, by springs 69.

As the upper bolster plate I3 is moved downwardly by the press, the presser feet 50 strike against the intermediate bolster plate 42 and move it downwardly with respect to the forming rod 37 until the recess 56 partially encircles rod 5'! and until said intermediate bolster plate 42 abuts the shoulder of guide block 38. Continued downward movement of bolster plate |3 is transmitted through the springs 5| encircling presser feet 59 to move the forming rod 31 downwardly between the opposite faces of projections 30 and 3|, which are spaced a distance equal to the diameter of rod 3'! and two thicknesses of blank 2|, into the forming recess 28 of the lower forming die 26 to preform the blank 2|. It will be noted that openings 36 in the guide plates 35 are just wide enough to receive the forming rod 37 and so that the ends of blank 2| abut against the guide plates 35 during this preliminary forming operation, Such abutment between the ends of blank 2| and guide plates 35 prevents any appreciable movement, such as twisting or spiralling during the forming action of rod 37.

This preliminary forming operation by an auxiliary forming member causes the edges of blank 2| to be turned upwardly and present its edges to the upper forming die. Under this condition, any fiat surface adjacent the forming recess of an ordinary upper forming die would abut against these edges of blank 2| and either cause excessive wear upon the forming die or mutilation of the blank, or both.

An upper forming die 6| is mounted in a die holder 62 upon the upper bolster plate I3. Said upper forming die 6| is provided with a forming recess 63 of such shape as to force the blank against the auxiliary forming member or forming rod 31 to complete the forming operation. One or more inclined surfaces 54 project from the upper forming die 6| and adjoin the forming recess 63. These inclined surfaces 64 present a converging mouth on the forming die and engage the edges of the preformed blank to cam said edges and upper portions of the blank into the forming recess 63. After the edges of the blank have been so cammed into the forming recess of the upper forming die 6|, the forming operation is completed in the conventional manner. The conditions just prior to closing of the dies 26 and 62 are depicted in Figs. 5 and 9 while the conditions upon closure of the die are well-known, at which time the blank 2| completely encircles the forming rod 31,

A convenient manner of providing said inclined surfaces on forming die 6| is to provide a plurality of vertical ridges 6| along each side thereof. The lower edges of such ridges 6| are beveled to provide the desired camming surfaces while the ridges 6| interengage with the projections 36 and 3| on the auxiliary forming blocks 30 and 3| accurately to guide dies 26 and 6| toward each other.

The upper forming die 6| moves upwardly with the upper bolster plate l3 and the forming rod 37, carrying the now tubular blank 2|, is moved out of the lower forming die 26 by said kicker pins 58 and 59. The completed tube is removed from the forming rod 31 by an ejector mechanism including a sleeve member 65 slidable upon forming rod 31 and connected by links 66 to the arms of a yoke member 61. Said yoke member 61 is mounted upon a slide movable within a recess of base member l0 and actuated in any desired manner to draw sleeve member 65 along forming rod 3'i' and to eject the formed tube over the end of rod 3?.

In the formation of tubes constituting the core of a spool, it is often desirable to form slots in the periphery of such tubes. Accordingly, the forming rod 31 may be provided with a recess 69 and with a pair of slots 10, see Figs. 5, 7 and 8. A punch H moves through a slot in the lower forming die 26, is actuated by a lever 12 pivoted in a block 13 upon lower bolster plate II, and held in retracted position by a spring 14 between lever I2 and lower bolster plate II. An actuator rod 15 is mounted upon the upper bolster plate l3 and is so positioned and arranged as to strike the outer end of lever 12 after the upper forming die 6| is nearly closed, as shown in Fig. 5, and to move punch H into the recess 69 of the forming rod 31. The blank 2| is preferably slotted so that the punch H merely bends the edges of the blank 2| inwardly. The slots 10 are provided along forming rod 31 to permit movement of the formed tube along the rod 31 by the previously described ejector mechanism.

The perforated blanks 2| are moved from the punch press to the forming press by a transfer mechanism. A slide 16 is slidably mounted within a recess in base member 10 and carries a support 11. A transfer bar 18 is slidably mounted in support 11 and has a jaw 19 for extending through blank guiding channels 3 and through guide channel 53 of guide 38. Said jaw 19 will engage the edge of formed blank 2| in the lower stripper plate H, see Fig. 1, move said blank 2| through channels "3 and channel 53 onto the upper surfaces of auxiliary forming blocks 30 and 3| of the forming die. At the same time, the upper forming die 6| is moving toward the lower forming die 26 with interengagement of projections 30, 3|, and GI and finally the inclined surfaces 64 upon upper forming die 6| engage the edges of the preformed blank 2| and cam those edges into the forming recess 63 of the upper forming die 6|. Closing of dies 26 and BI completes the forming operation around the rod 31.

Kicker pins 58 and 59 move forming rod 31 out of the lower die 26 upon return of the upper bolster plate to its upper position. Then the ejector mechanism including sleeve member is operated to slide the completed tube over the end of forming rod 31.

Since other modifications of the invention may be accomplished without departing from the spirit thereof, the present disclosure is to be construed in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having now particularly described my invention what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States and what I claim is:

1. In a forming press for blanks of sheet stock, the combination with a die provided with a forming recess and a plurality of spaced guide recesses, a second die also provided with a forming recess and having a plurality of inclined projections .adjoining and sloping toward said forming recess therein, a pair of supports each carrying one of said dies for movement toward each other, an auxiliary forming member shaped to fit into one of said forming recesses, and an operating means connected to said auxiliary forming memher and operated in timed relation to the movement of said supports and for moving said auxiliary forming member to force part of said blank into the first die and partially forming said blank prior to the closure of said dies, of a guide member attached to said first die and for engaging the end of said blank continuously to prevent shifting or turning thereof while said auxiliary forming member is partially forming said blank and while the inclined projections of the second die are, camming the edges of the blank into the forming recess thereof and are entering said guide recesses.

2. In a forming press for blanks of sheet stock with parallel ends, the combination with a die provided with a forming recess and a plurality of marginal guide recesses, a second die also provided with a forming recess and having a plurality of inclined projections adjoining and sloping toward said forming recess therein, a pair of supports each carrying one of said dies for movement toward each other, an auxiliary forming member shaped to fit into one of said forming recesses, and an operating means connected to said auxiliary forming member and operated in timed relation to the movement of said supports and for moving said auxiliary forming member to force part of said blank into the first die and partially forming said blank prior to the closure of said dies, of a guide member attached to each end of said first die and for abutting the parallel ends of said blank continuously to prevent shifting or turning thereof while said auxiliary forming member is partially forming said blank and while the inclined projectionsof the second die are camming the edges of the blank 7 into the forming recess thereof and are engaging said guide recesses.

3. In a press for forming a tube from a blank of sheet stock with parallel ends, the combination with a die provided with a semi-cylindrical recess, a second die also provided with a semicylindrical recess and having inclined surfaces adjoining and sloping toward each margin of said recess, a pair of supports each carrying one of said dies for movement toward each other, a rod having a diameter equal to the inside diameter of the finished tube, and an operating means connected to said rod and operated in timed relation to the movement of said supports and for moving said rod and part of said blank into the recess of the first die partially to form the blank, of fiat guide members at each end of said first die to engage the parallel ends of said blank continuously, each provided with an opening to permit said rod to be moved into forming position, and an interlocking connection comprising at least one guide recess in one die and a corresponding projection on the other die which enters and engages said guide recess as the dies are moved to closed position.

HAYWOOD G. DEWEY. 

